Warning shots over poaching in East Lancashire

5:00pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in News

WARNING letters have been sent to around 100 suspected poachers in the Ribble Valley.

Police have been working with game-keepers, residents and park wardens to identify those suspected of poaching and to warn them that they may face prosecution.

The scheme, named Operation Sika, includes cooperation from the Environment Agency, the British Association for Shooting and Con-servation, land owners and farmers, and has been running for four years.

Also working with police was Slaidburn, Newton and Bowland ward councillor Rosie Elms, who said all rural areas were affected by poaching at different times of the year, with pheasants being particular targets in the run up to Christmas.

She said: “It is a brilliant scheme. It is working very, very well and we are seeing results.”

Coun Elms said that deer, rabbits and salmon in the Hodder and Ribble Rivers were also frequent targets.

PC Carl Chew said police had seen a decrease in reported incidents over the last few years, which he put down to increased patrols.

He said: “The crops have been late this year due to the weather, but now they have been gathered we may start to see an increase in poaching. Also the rivers in our area are well stocked with salmon and sea trout and we have had reports of illegal netting.

“The ‘anti poaching’ letters highlight the action that will be taken against anyone caught poaching and the serious consequences they face by being part of this organised crime.

“We take a tough stance on rural crime and through working closely with our partners have created a database of intelligence against suspected rural crime offenders.” Anyone who has any information about rural crime should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Comments (6)

5:10pm Thu 13 Sep 12

shytalk says...

A hare from the hill, and a bird from the mountain.
A beast from the wood, and a fish from the fountain.
All taken by stealth and me blessings am counting
With me young dog..
Gun, rod and line.
They all take their chances and i do take mine.
A hare from the hill, and a bird from the mountain. A beast from the wood, and a fish from the fountain. All taken by stealth and me blessings am counting With me young dog.. Gun, rod and line. They all take their chances and i do take mine. shytalk

6:49pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Troy McCLur says...

shytalk wrote:
A hare from the hill, and a bird from the mountain.
A beast from the wood, and a fish from the fountain.
All taken by stealth and me blessings am counting
With me young dog..
Gun, rod and line.
They all take their chances and i do take mine.
I like it!
[quote][p][bold]shytalk[/bold] wrote: A hare from the hill, and a bird from the mountain. A beast from the wood, and a fish from the fountain. All taken by stealth and me blessings am counting With me young dog.. Gun, rod and line. They all take their chances and i do take mine.[/p][/quote]I like it! Troy McCLur

7:54pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Caspar the ghost says...

If the police have identified them, can't they go round to their place of abode and give them a face-to-face warning?

Or is it too much work for the police??
If the police have identified them, can't they go round to their place of abode and give them a face-to-face warning? Or is it too much work for the police?? Caspar the ghost

11:01pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Troy McCLur says...

Well I know most of the 'poachers' in the Ribble Valley and if the Police don't then they are not doing their job... the thing is though that - in this day and age - what difference would it make to anyone if a 'Poacher' took home a salmon or a rabbit?! Ok I don't agree with Deer being taken - but come on!! Aren't the Police's resources much better spent on other things than Hunters - sorry - 'poachers' trying to feed their family. What makes them a poacher anyway when the wild animals run or swim freely?! This 'clamp down' is a joke and a waste of PUBLIC funds.
Well I know most of the 'poachers' in the Ribble Valley and if the Police don't then they are not doing their job... the thing is though that - in this day and age - what difference would it make to anyone if a 'Poacher' took home a salmon or a rabbit?! Ok I don't agree with Deer being taken - but come on!! Aren't the Police's resources much better spent on other things than Hunters - sorry - 'poachers' trying to feed their family. What makes them a poacher anyway when the wild animals run or swim freely?! This 'clamp down' is a joke and a waste of PUBLIC funds. Troy McCLur

10:43am Fri 14 Sep 12

shytalk says...

Troy McCLur wrote:
Well I know most of the 'poachers' in the Ribble Valley and if the Police don't then they are not doing their job... the thing is though that - in this day and age - what difference would it make to anyone if a 'Poacher' took home a salmon or a rabbit?! Ok I don't agree with Deer being taken - but come on!! Aren't the Police's resources much better spent on other things than Hunters - sorry - 'poachers' trying to feed their family. What makes them a poacher anyway when the wild animals run or swim freely?! This 'clamp down' is a joke and a waste of PUBLIC funds.
Just so long as places don't get paid a visit too many times...And lests face it half of the people in the Ribble valley would have police convictions for poaching if the truth was known..No sensible person is going to accidently run a pheasnt over and not put it in the boot of the car now are they?
[quote][p][bold]Troy McCLur[/bold] wrote: Well I know most of the 'poachers' in the Ribble Valley and if the Police don't then they are not doing their job... the thing is though that - in this day and age - what difference would it make to anyone if a 'Poacher' took home a salmon or a rabbit?! Ok I don't agree with Deer being taken - but come on!! Aren't the Police's resources much better spent on other things than Hunters - sorry - 'poachers' trying to feed their family. What makes them a poacher anyway when the wild animals run or swim freely?! This 'clamp down' is a joke and a waste of PUBLIC funds.[/p][/quote]Just so long as places don't get paid a visit too many times...And lests face it half of the people in the Ribble valley would have police convictions for poaching if the truth was known..No sensible person is going to accidently run a pheasnt over and not put it in the boot of the car now are they? shytalk

10:38pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Rimbus says...

shytalk wrote:
Troy McCLur wrote:
Well I know most of the 'poachers' in the Ribble Valley and if the Police don't then they are not doing their job... the thing is though that - in this day and age - what difference would it make to anyone if a 'Poacher' took home a salmon or a rabbit?! Ok I don't agree with Deer being taken - but come on!! Aren't the Police's resources much better spent on other things than Hunters - sorry - 'poachers' trying to feed their family. What makes them a poacher anyway when the wild animals run or swim freely?! This 'clamp down' is a joke and a waste of PUBLIC funds.
Just so long as places don't get paid a visit too many times...And lests face it half of the people in the Ribble valley would have police convictions for poaching if the truth was known..No sensible person is going to accidently run a pheasnt over and not put it in the boot of the car now are they?
The last time I hit one was whilst driving on the A59 just outside East Marton on the way to Skipton a few years ago. The bird was decapitated and it's head came over the top of the bonnet and the body of the bird went underneath the car bouncing off the road a couple of times and rattling along the chassis. Whilst I do consider myself sensible, contrary to the suggestion in shytalk's post, I didn't stop and put it in the boot as it would have resembled something like a spatchcock pheasant and no doubt had 'Dunlop' imprinted down the side of it.
[quote][p][bold]shytalk[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Troy McCLur[/bold] wrote: Well I know most of the 'poachers' in the Ribble Valley and if the Police don't then they are not doing their job... the thing is though that - in this day and age - what difference would it make to anyone if a 'Poacher' took home a salmon or a rabbit?! Ok I don't agree with Deer being taken - but come on!! Aren't the Police's resources much better spent on other things than Hunters - sorry - 'poachers' trying to feed their family. What makes them a poacher anyway when the wild animals run or swim freely?! This 'clamp down' is a joke and a waste of PUBLIC funds.[/p][/quote]Just so long as places don't get paid a visit too many times...And lests face it half of the people in the Ribble valley would have police convictions for poaching if the truth was known..No sensible person is going to accidently run a pheasnt over and not put it in the boot of the car now are they?[/p][/quote]The last time I hit one was whilst driving on the A59 just outside East Marton on the way to Skipton a few years ago. The bird was decapitated and it's head came over the top of the bonnet and the body of the bird went underneath the car bouncing off the road a couple of times and rattling along the chassis. Whilst I do consider myself sensible, contrary to the suggestion in shytalk's post, I didn't stop and put it in the boot as it would have resembled something like a spatchcock pheasant and no doubt had 'Dunlop' imprinted down the side of it. Rimbus

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree